Jet lag hit hard that morning and I missed the Sommelier seminar due to an unplanned nap. Managed to arrive just a little late to the Grand Tasting.
Usual disclaimers - my palate and note taking declined over the course of the event, some wines could definitely use more air, etc.
Short impressions
2014 is somewhat disappointing as a vintage though as always there are plenty of exceptions.
Big wine discoveries were Benoit Marguet and the Brut Nature wines of Drappier. Then there were the totally unsurprising wow wines like 2008 Cristal and 2011 Vilmart Rubis.
Big food discovery - Despana sells the gods of tinned anchovies. They were really that good. Jamon was fine but nothing extraordinary.
Bereche
NV Brut Reserve - lovely,One of my favorites on the table
2014 Rive Gauche - usually one of my favorite Champagnes altogether, in 2014 it was good rather than great. bright berry fruit on nose, medium body
2014 Remensis Extra Brut Rose - beautiful nose, a bit leaner than most vintages
2014 Les Beau Regards - showing a bit oxidative , not something I recall from prior vintages
2010 Le Cran - bright acid, very nice
Drappier
Brut Nature Sans Soufre - fresh apple nose, very good, B+
Blancs de Blancs NV - very nice - B
Rose Nature NV - beautiful nose soft red berry fruit, lovely wine A. I’ll be looking for this one.
Grand Sendree 2008 - pretty meh for a 2008
Diebolt Vallois
Blanc de Blancs NV - nice, B-/B
Blanc de Blancs 2010
Prestige NV - creamier than the first two B
Fleur de Passion 2008 - lovely, B+
Vilmart
NV Grand Cellier - what a delightful wine. lovely pure nose, lush satisfying palate A-
2013 Grand Cellier d’Or - surprisingly a step down from the previous wine. B/B+
2010 Coeur de Cuvee - needs time but impressive A-/A
2011 Grand Cellier Rubis - put a smile on my face and a kick in my step. A
Pierre Paillard - a friend said I had to try their wines. He was wrong. They were fine but a bit ordinary.
Louis Roederer
Brut Nature 2009 - I decided to skip this since I already know I love it
Rose 2012 - great nose but there was distracting sweetness on the palate. A nose, B palate
Cristal 2008 - I am sure that I will shock everyone by revealing that Cristal is great in 2008. Beautiful crystalline wine. A+
Benoit Marguet - my first time trying this producer, I was impressed
Shaman Grand Cru 2014, Certifiee bio et bio-dynamique - fascinating nose and lovely attractive palate. Natural but in a good way A-
Bouzy Grand Cru 2013 - delightful, friendly, light and airy and graceful. Less intellectual than the first wine but it put a smile on my face. A-/A
Ambonnay Grand Cru 2011 - nice good solid Champagne, a bit lean B/B+
Sapience 1er Cru 2009 certifiee bio - deep nose which rewards attention. A wine of meditation which demanded to be taken to a corner to spend time with in conversation. Wow! A
Georges Laval - not really my style, all were a bit too far in the natural direction for me.
Cumieres Premier Cru NV, Bio/Organic - C
Les Chenes 1er Cru 2014, Bio/Organic - Pleasant. B
Les Hautes Cheveres 1er Cru 2013, Bio/Organic - B-
Les Longues Violes 1er Cru 2012 Bio/Organic - C+
Pol Roger
Brut Reserve NV - B
Brut Vintage 2009 A-
Rose Vintage 2009 - Not much on the nose, a bit rough,B
Sir Winston Churchill 2009 - Quite closed but sparkling with occasional hints of greatness. I’d like to try it with much more air.
Lallier - none were all that enjoyable
Pierre Peters
Cuvee de Reserve Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru NV
Reserve Oubliee Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru NV
L’Etonnant Monsieur Victor MK11 Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru NV - very good, B+/A-
Les Chetillons Le Mesnil Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru NV 2011
Some extras:
2006 Dom Perignon (magnum) - good complete Champagne. B+/A-
1999 Piper Heidsick Rare - perhaps my favorite nose of the day. Nose A/A+, palate B/B+
2014 Fourrier Cherbaudes - showing rather ripe for a Fourrier and for a 2014. Nothing exciting.
2017 Huet Le Haut Lieu Sec - really nice minerally wine. A quintessential Vouvray Sec